The death toll in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on election day has risen to nine amid tight security. Among the dead are two children.
Voting has ended in most polling stations in Pakistan. But those who stood in line before the deadline could still vote. And in some centres, the Election Commission has extended the polling time by two hours.
It has been said that Pakistan has closed some land borders to maintain law and order besides temporarily suspending mobile services to avoid violence.
Earlier, at least 26 people were killed in two explosions near election candidates’ offices in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Wednesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs said that they have taken steps to stop the service after the incident. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.
The ministry said on micro-blogging site X that precious lives have been lost due to recent incidents of terrorism in the country. Security measures are essential to maintain law and order situation and counter potential threats.
Thousands of troops have been deployed on the streets and at polling stations across the country. Borders with Iran and Afghanistan were temporarily closed.
Local police chief Rauf Qaisrani said four policemen were killed in a bomb blast and gunfire targeting a police patrol in Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district in the northwest.
About 40 km to the north, gunmen opened fire on a security force vehicle in Tanka, killing one person.
Grenade attacks were also reported in different parts of Balochistan, but polling was not affected as no casualties were reported. Said Ahmed Umrani, Commissioner of Makran Division, gave this information.
